Sheet severing mechanism



Feb. 6, 1940; MAUL 2,189,042

' I SHEET SEVERING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

yam

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 6, 1940. MAUL I 2,189,042

SHEET SEVERING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

By WZM A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 6, 1940. M, L v 2,189,042

SHEET SEVERING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

' A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES SHEET SEVERlNG MECHANISM Michael Maul, Berlin-Johannisthal, Germany, assignor to the firm Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m. b. 11., Berlin-Lichterfelde, Germany Substituted for abandonedapplication Serial No. 495,249, November 12, 1930. This application August 9, 1938, Serial No. 223,796.

November 24, 1937 6 Claims.

This application is a re-file of application Serial No. 495,249, filed November 12, 1930.

The present invention relates to sheet severing mechanisms and more particularly to mechanisms for severing record sheets prepared in type printing apparatus.

In various kinds of type printing apparatus, the entries are made upon continuous record sheets which are severed into individual sheets or forms after the recording entries have been made thereupon and in order to permit easier handling of the sheets the record sheet may be wound upon a roll. As an example of machines of this kind, printing tabulating machines may be mentioned in which the accumulating and printing mechanisms are automatically controlled by perforated record cards and the printing mechanism may also be under the control of the accumulators for taking the totals. In such tabulating machines one line of. data is printed during each of the successive cycles of machine operation upon a continuous record sheet which is automatically line spaced after each printing operation one step to feed the next blank line into printing position. In this way a continuous record sheet will be obtained having data printed in lines underneath each other. In almost all cases however, a

number of lines of data belong to a certain group and thevarious groups are usually separated from each other by blank spaces to distinguish the groups and by severing the record sheet inaccordance with said groups individual lists or forms may be obtained for each group of data. For instance, in a banking business statements of account are prepared in this way so that each customer receives a separate form containing the business transactions relating to the respective customer.

It is, therefore, the main object of. the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for severing the record sheet preferably immediately adjacent to the printing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a severing knife in a type printing apparatus for severing a continuous record sheet immediately adjacent to said apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide closely adjacent to a platen roller for type printing apparatus a severing knife adapted to sever the record sheet which is fed by said roller.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a severing knife in a type printing apparatus, said knife being adjustable relatively to the printing line.

A further object is to provide a tensioning In Germany mechanism for tensioning the record sheet before the severing operation takes place.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the em- 5 bodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

Though the present invention isparticularly well adapted for the above mentioned automatically operated printing tabulating machines, its use is, by no means, limited tosaid machines but the mechanism may be used as well for various kinds of type printing apparatus in which similar requirements are set forth as in tabulating machines. The present invention is of-particular advantage for such machines if comparatively wide record sheets are to .be severed.

A. preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the improved severing mechanism shown in connection with the printing platen or record sheet feed roller of a type printing apparatus such as, for instance, the printing'mechanism of a tabulating machine;

Fig. 1a shows in side elevation the severing knife;

Fig. 2 is a section taken through the central portion of Fig. 1 and looking to the left side in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the right side of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows on an enlarged scale in side elevation a detail view illustrating the control of the interruptor contact for the current circuits of the magnets operating the severing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the normal relationship of the record sheet and the severing knife when the latter is at normal position;

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically the position of. the knife after the first severing phase;

Fig. 8 illustrates diagrammatically the position of the severing knife after the completion of the severing operation;

Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the controlling electro-magnetic mechanism for the tensioning frame;

Fig. 10 is the electrical wiring diagram.

The type box H of the type printing apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a number of adjacently mounted type bars I2 each being provided' with a plurality of type elements I3. The type bars are adjusted during each printing cycle to a certain position and when the type bars are adjusted to printing position the type elements I3 at the printing line are simultaneously impelled towards the record sheet by means of hammers I4 so that a Whole line is printed simultaneously. When the type bars I2 return to their home position, the platen roller I5 will be rotated one step by means of a well known mechanism such as a pawl cooperating with a ratchet wheel I6 (Fig. 1) to shift the next blank line of the continuous record sheet I1 into printing position. The platen roller I5 is pivotally mounted by a shaft I8 journaled in the casings I9 and 20 and is provided with a hand wheel 2I. The record sheet is unrolled from a supply roll 22 (Fig. 2) and is fed over the platen roller and over guide bars, which will later be described, and the severed lists fall from a guide tray 23.

The severing mechanism, which shall now be described more in detail, two side frame plates 24 and 25 which are carried by the shaft I8 and which are connected 'to each other. These connections comprise, in part, a holding roll 35 (Fig. 2), a guide bar and knife 28, and a guide bar 29 between which guide bars the record sheet is fed. The aforesaid roll 35 cooperates with a tightening or tensioning roll 36 to tension the record sheet before the severing operation.

The edge of a severing knife 31 (Figs. 1, 1a and 2) is inclined downwardly from the left to the right so that the left edge of the severing knife is closest to the record sheet being fed between the bars 28 and 29, while the right hand end of the knife edge is further away from the record sheet. The knife 31 is provided with a reinforcing projection bar 38 (Fig. 2) and carries on both rounded ends (Fig. 1a) pins 39 projecting into the slotted eyes 40 (see Fig. 1) of controlling plates 4I and 42. Each of the controlling plates 4I and 42 has two slots 43 (Fig. 2)

cooperating with pins carried by the frame plates 24 and 25 and serving to guide the plates on the frame plates 24 and 25, and a further pin 44 (Fig. 2) cooperating with the lower projection of each controlling plate serves as a stop.

, Each controlling plate carries at it upper end a pin 45 (Fig. 2) projecting into the slot of a related lever 41, 48 and a lever 41, 48a, each pivotally mounted at 46. The arm 48 or 4811 of said levers is provided with a pin projecting into a slot 49 of the armature plate 5!; The armature plate 50 is guided by means of slots engaging pins '5I carried by the coordinated frame plate 24 or 25 and is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 2 or 3, since a spring 52 tends to draw the related arm. 41, 48, 41, 48a in a counterclockwise direction ,(Fig. ,2). The ends of the guide bars 28, and 2.9 (Fig. 1) are shouldered and are fastened totheframeplates 24 and 25. The

knife edge ofthe. knife,;3 1 is normally below the knife edge of the g uidebar 28 so that the paper I1 may be unobstructedly fed between said knife edges. The knife 31 is provided on bothends with projections53 (Figs. 1 and -1a)..=-Two springs 54 serve to draw ;the .knifewith its stops 53 against the knife edge of the guide bar 28 so that upon its raising movement the knife "3 1 is a'lways in close c0ntact with the knife edge of the-guide bar 1 28.

In order toiraise -the knife for the severing op"-' eration, the controlling magnets 55 and 56 are is primarily carried by sequentially energized. Upon energization of the controlling magnet 55, the coordinated armature plate 59 is drawn downwardly thereby acting upon the pin fastened 'to the arm 480, (Fig. 2) and pressing the latter downwardly, the pin of the arm 48a then moving in the slot of the armature plate 50 about the pivot 46. Consequently, by means of the pin 45 the controlling plate M and also the knife 31, which is connected thereto by means of the pins 39 projecting into the slots of eyes 40, will be drawn upwardly at the left end (Fig. l) and the sheet "will be severed from its left edge to the middle portion. At the end of the first severing phase the knife is in the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. In a manner still to be described, the magnet 56 (Fig. 1) will then ,be automatically energized and at the right side ofthe severing mechanism the same operations will take place as*have taken place at the left side so that now the right side of the knife will be drawn'upwardly; thereby the severing line between the knife bar 28 and the knife 31 will run from the middle portion to the right hand edge of the record sheet. At the end of the second severing phase the knife is in the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

For tensioning or tightening the record sheet before the severing operation takes place, the following described mechanism is preferably provided:

The above mentioned tensioning or tightening roll 36 (Figs. 1 and 2) is carried by two side arms 51 which are pivotally mounted at 58 to the frame plates 24 and 25. Each of the arms 51 carries a contact arm 59 and a latch extension 60. Each latch extension 60 is normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines and is normally in engagement with a latch 6| which is drawn by a spring 62 against a stop thus holding the roll 36 in latched position. The latch 6|, in turn, is pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 63 pivoted at 62' and the other arm of said bell crank lever is connected by a pin and slot connection with the lower projection of the related controlling plate M or 42. 6| has a projection 64 (see also Fig. 9) extending through the coordinated frame plate to the Each of the latches l outside and forming the armature of a magnet 65. On each of the frame plates 24 and 25 the related magnet 65' is fastened by means of an angle piece 66 (Fig. 1). The springs 61 (Fig. 2), arranged on both sides and cooperating with the arms 59, tend to rock the tensioning roll frame normally in counterclockwise direction, said rocking, however, being prevented by the aforesaid latch mechanism. During the regular printing operations the record sheet is fed by means. of;

the platen roller I5 step by step between the guide bars 28 to the tray 23 immediately after leaving the bar 29 but it will be advanced in a horizontal or even in an upwardly inclined direction over the r01 35 but beneath the roll 36 which reotion (Fig. 2) to engage with'the stationary is positioned" normally as shown in dotted lines. If a severi'ngf operation is then initiated the magnets65will" first be. simultaneously energized. Thereby the latches 6| are disengaged from the extensions 1 60 and the springs 61 will rock the arnis 51 ai1d the tensioning roll 36 in-a'counterclockwise di and 29 preferably with the aid of small 1'10"" right side roll 35 and thereby the record sheet held between rolls 35-36 will be tensioned between the bar 28 and the rolls 35 and 36. For the actual severing operation the magnet 55 is then energized so that the knife 31 is raised and the paper sheet will be pressed against the knife edge of the guide bar 28, and the cut will be executed in the above described manner from the left to the right (Fig. 1). Upon the energization of magnet 55 and the subsequent elevation of the controlling plate 4|,' the bell crank lever 63 will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction and the latch 6| at the left side will be moved towards the extension 68 far enough to catch under the extension 68. As will be seen'from the specification following, the magnet 55 will now remain energized and will cause the energization of magnet 56 and the second severing phase. Then the latch 6| at the right side (Fig. 1) will be moved towards and catch under the extension 68 so that at the end of the severing operation both extensions 68 will be caught by the latches 6| but the tensioning roll frame will remain in tensioning position. If now the current circuit for magnets 55 and 56 is interrupted, and. the springs 52 return the knife 31, and the controlling plates 4|, 42 to home position, each bell crank lever 63 will be rocked in counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) to its normal position and since the latches 6| are in engagement with the extensions 68, the tensioning roll frame will be rocked in clockwise direction and the roll 36 will again be moved to the position shown in dotted lines. During the subsequent printing operations the paper is then permitted to be fed freely between the separated rolls 35 and 36.

The contact controlling mechanism serving for the control of the proper timing of the subsequent operations will now be explained.

' As may be seen from Fig. 2, there are provided two contacts 18 and II at the left side of the severing mechanism. The contact 18 is normally open and is closed when the magnet 55 is energized at the end of the first severing phase. The contact 1| is also normally open and is closed when the tensioning roll 36 is in close contact with the roll 35. The parts are shown in the drawings in the position which they are in after the 'unlatching of the tensioning roll frame but before the first severing phase. At the right side of the. severing mechanism there is a contact (Fig. 3) and in a similar manner this contact is under the control of the right hand arm 59 of the tensioning .roll frame.

The arm 48 controls a contact 15 only at the of the severing mechanism and the arrangement at the right side is shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 4. To more clearly illustrate the parts in Fig. 4, it is assumed that a part of the frame plate 25 has been broken away. The arm 48 at the right side has a groove 12 adapted to receive a pin 13 of a controlling plate 14 for the contact I5. The contact plate 14 is guided by means of pins 16 on the frame plate 25 and the normal position of the plate 14 is effected by a spring 18 moving the plate 14 towards the left so that the pin 13 is in engagement with the lower end of arm 48. The contact 15 is carried by the frame plate 25 and the contact i5 is received by a recess Tl of the controlling plates 14 and in such a way that the left edge of recess 11 keeps the contact 15 normally closed.

0n the arm 48 is pivoted a pawl 19 engaging by means of a sidewardly projecting lug 88 the lower portion of the groove 12. The pawl 18 is severing mechanism.

pivoted by a rod 8| carried by the plate 48 and to the rod 8| there is attached an arm 82 tending by means of a spring 83 to draw pawl 19 normally in clockwise direction (.Fig. 4) so that the lug 88 closes the lower portion of groove 12. When the arm 48 is drawn downwardly by the energization of the magnet 56, the pin 13 rides along the outer edge of pawl 18 and the contact 15 will remain closed. When,'however, the arm 48 reaches its lowermost position and, therefore,

the second phase of the severing operation has been completed, the pin 13 is just above the pawl 19 and is opposite the upper entrance of groove 12 so that the spring 18 will now draw the plate 14 to the left. The pin 13 ,now rides in the upper 7 groove and underneath said lug 88. The pin 13 and the controlling plate 14 now reach the position shown in Fig. 4 and the contact '15 will again be closed the lower entrance of groove 12. Upon another severing operation the lug 88 will prevent the pin from passing upwardly through the groove 12 so that the pin 13 is forced to ride along the outer edge of pa 1 18.

The aforesaid rovision has been made to secure on the one hand that the deenergization of the current circuits is positively'efiected only when the severing of the record sheet has been effectively and completely taken place and, on the other hand, that the contact 15 controlling and the lug 88 will again close the interruption of the current circuits may not be closed again before the return to home position of all parts is completed, in order to prevent any accidental simultaneous closure of contact 15 and contacts ll, 1| and 1|".

Fig. 18 shows the electrical diagram of the The current source 85 is in series with the contact 15 controlling the disconnection of the magnets from the current source. The latch magnets 65 are shunted across the lines 81, 88 by means of a contact 86 which in turn is controlled by a release key 89. controlling magnet 55 is connected to the lines 81,88 by the contacts 1| and 1|" and the controlling magnet 56 of the right side is connected to the lines 86, 81 by the contact 18. The contact I5 is controlled in the above described manner by the controlling plate 14 and is normally closed.

The operation of the mechanism will now be briefly described in connection with the electrical circuit diagram. After a certain number of printing operations and step by step feeding movements of the record sheet, the severing of the printed part of the sheet may be effected by the operator when he presses the key 88 thereby closing the contact 86. If the mechanism is to be controlled automatically, a contact 98 may be provided for this purpose, said contact being under the control of a suitable element ofthe machine. By closing one of said contacts 86 or 88, the two magnets 65 will be energized and the latches 6| (Fig. 2) are attracted so that the springs 61 are permitted to rock the tensioning roll frame in a counterclockwise direction and The the rolls 35, 36 will now tension the record sheet.

When the roll frame is in this position both contacts 1| and H" will be closed and since said contacts are arranged in series with the magnet 55, they will efiect the energization of the controlling magnet 55 only when the tensioning roll frame is completely in tensioning position at both ends. By the energization of magnet 55 the left end of the knife 31 will be drawn upwardly and the severing of the record sheet will be effected from the one edge to the middle portion (Fig. 7) Since the tensioning roll frame remains in tensioning position, the contacts H and 1|" will also remain closed and consequently the magnet 55 will remain energized. However, at the end of the first severing phase, the contact 10 (Fig. 2) will be closed by the arm 48a at the left side and, therefore, subsequent to the first severing phase the magnet 56 of the right side will be immediately energized and the knife will also be drawn upwardly at the right side to complete the severing operation (Fig. 8). At the end of this second severing phase, however, due to the above described movement of the controlling plate 14 (Fig. 4) to the left, the contact 15 will open and thereby the current supply will be interrupted to the magnets 65 as well as to the magnets 55 and 56 (see also Fig. 10) so that all parts will now return to their normal position (Fig. 2) and also the tensioning mechanism will return to its rest position. The contact 15 will, at the end of these operations, again be closed by means of the controlling plate 14. At the end of the severing operation all parts are inyproper position ready for another severing operation.

The whole severing mechanism may be adjusted relatively to the printing line so that the cutting line is adjustable relatively to the printing line. For this purpose the plate 24 (Fig. 1) is not pivoted upon the platen shaft I8 but upon a sleeve 50 fastened to the casing I9 in which the shaft I8 is journaled. At the threaded left end of sleeve 50' is a hand wheel 5| provided to clamp the side plate 24 against the casing l9 so that the whole severing mechanism may be adjusted to a certain position. If the. cutting line is tobe changed relatively to the printing line the hand wheel 5| must be loosened and the side plates 24, 25 with the bars 28, 29 as well as the knife, magnets and tensioning roll mechanism will be rocked about the shaft l8 (see Figs. 1 and 2) and again fastened in the desired position by screwing the hand wheel 5| against the plate 24. If it is desired to sever the sheet immediately behind the last printing line, the severing frame is rocked to the left as far as possible (Fig.2). But if a certaimblank space is to remain after the last printing line, the severing mechanism will be adjusted accordingly and an additional feed must be impartedto the record sheet before severing may take place.

. While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

- operation by said movable 1. In a sheet severing mechanism for a printing apparatus for severing continuous sheets fed by a platen roller comprising a fixed knife blade,

- a movable knife blade, means for supporting said 2. A sheet severing mechanism for a printingapparatus for severing continuous sheets fed by a pivoted platen roller comprising a fixed knife blade, a movable knife blade, means pivoted concentrally with said platen to support said blades longitudinally above said platen roller, means for eifecting a relative movement of said blades to sever said sheetclose to said platen roller, and means for effecting various adjustments of said supporting means to position said blades at a desired distance from a fixed printing line of said platen roller.

3. A sheet severing mechanism fora printing apparatus for severing continuous sheets fed by a platen roller comprising a fixed knife blade, a movable knife blade, means .for supporting said knife blades to mount said blades longitudinally above said platen roller, a plurality of operating means each having a pivotal connection to opposite ends of said movable knife blade, means for actuating one of said operating means about the pivotal connection with said other operating means to move said movable blade against said fixed blade to partially sever said sheet, and means for then actuating said other operating means about the pivotal connection of the operating means first operated to thus completely sever said sheet.

4. A sheet severing mechanism comprising a fixed knife blade, a movable knife blade, a plurality of knife blade operating means each having a pivotal connection to opposite ends of said movable knife blade, and a plurality of sequentially energized electromagnets,- each actuating the related operating means to rock said movable knife blade against said fixed knife blade about the pivotal connection with the other operating means to thereby sever said record sheet in two operations ofsaid movable knife blade.

5. A sheet severing mechanism for severing a continuous sheet fed by a platen roller, a fixed knife blade, a movable knife blade, means for mounting said blades longitudinally above said platen roller, means for guiding said sheet between and through said knife blades to enable the leading edge to be unsupported, and means for engaging the leading edge of said sheet and to place said sheet in tension prior to a severing blade.

6. In a type printing apparatus provided with a platen roller, a severing mechanism comprising a fixed blade and a movable severing blade, means for placing a record sheet in tension between the platen roller and the leading edge of the sheet,

and means for adjustably carrying the aforesaid means whereby said severing mechanism may be adjusted to effect a severing of the sheet at desired distances of the printing line of said platen roller.

MICHAEL MAUL. 

